PUBLIC NOTICE FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION 45 L Street NE WASHINGTON D.C. 20554 News media information 202-418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov DA Number: 26-200 Report No. SCL-00596S Friday February 27, 2026 Streamlined Submarine Cable Landing License Applications Accepted for Filing Unless otherwise specified, the following procedures apply to the applications listed below: The applications listed below have been found, upon initial review, to be acceptable for filing and subject to the streamlined processing procedures set forth in section 1.767 of the Commission's rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.767. Pursuant to the Submarine Cable Landing License Act, 47 U.S.C. §§ 34-39, and Executive Order No. 10530, reprinted as amended in 3 U.S.C. § 301, each applicant seeks: (a) the grant of a submarine cable landing license; (b) the modification of a submarine cable landing license; and/or (c) the assignment or transfer of control of an interest in a submarine cable landing license. Pursuant to its decision in Review of Commission Consideration of Applications under the Submarine Cable Landing License Act, IB Docket No. 00-106, FCC 01-332, 16 FCC Rcd 22167 (2001), and section 1.767 of the rules, the Commission will take action upon these applications within forty-five (45) days after release of this public notice, unless upon further examination an application is deemed ineligible for streamlined processing. Ex parte communications between outside parties and Commission staff concerning these applications are permitted subject to the Commission's rules for "permit-but-disclose proceedings." See 47 C.F.R. § 1.1206. Unless otherwise specified, interested parties may file comments with respect to these applications within 14 days of this notice. Such filings will not necessarily result in an application being deemed ineligible for streamlined processing. People with Disabilities: To request materials in accessible formats for people with disabilities (braille, large print, electronic files, audio format), send an e-mail to fcc504@fcc.gov or call the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau at 202-418-0530 (voice). All applications listed are subject to further consideration and review, and may be returned and/or dismissed if not found to be in accordance with the Commission's rules, regulations, and other requirements. Page 1 of 6 SCL-AMD-20260203-00019 S250428 FLAG Telecom Limited Date filed: 2026-02-05 Amendment See discussion of ICFS File No. SCL-RWL-20250812-00027 in this Public Notice. SCL-RWL-20250812-00027 S250428 FLAG Telecom Limited Date filed: 2025-08-27 Renewal On August 27, 2025, FLAG Telecom Limited (FLAG Telecom) and FLAG Telecom Network USA Limited (FTNUSA) filed an application for a new 25-year cable landing license for the FLAG Atlantic-1 system (FLAG Atlantic-1), a private fiber-optic submarine cable system which connects cable landing stations in New York with cable landing stations in the United Kingdom and France. The FLAG Atlantic-1 system’s initial 25-year license (SCL-LIC-19990301-00005, SCL-MOD-20040211-00006) will expire on June 22, 2026. On February 5, 2026, the Applicants filed an amendment to make corrections and update certain information. See SCL-AMD-20260203-00019. The Applicants state that FLAG Telecom owns and operates the international waters portions of the FLAG Atlantic-1 system, and that FTNUSA owns and operates the U.S. territory portion of the system. The Applicants state that FLAG Atlantic-1 continues to perform operationally since it entered commercial service on June 22, 2001. According to the Applicants, FLAG Atlantic-1 will continue to provide diverse connectivity on U.S.-U.K. and U.S.-France routes where capacity demands increase each year. The Applicants state that FLAG Atlantic-1 increases resiliency on trans-Atlantic routes. The Application does not seek authority for new or modified submarine cable construction. Licensing History. In 1999, the Commission granted a cable landing license to FLAG Atlantic Limited (FLAG Telecom’s predecessor in interest) for authority to land and operate a private fiber optic submarine cable system to be called FLAG Atlantic-1, extending between the United States and the United Kingdom and France. See Application for a license to land and operate in the United States a private fiber optic submarine cable system extending between the United States and the United Kingdom and France, File No. SCL- LIC-19990301-00005, Cable Landing License, 15 FCC Rcd. 21359 (1999). The cable’s commercial operation commenced on June 22, 2001. See letter from R.H. Riley, Senior Corporate Counsel, Global Sound Xchange, to Federal Communications Commission filed in SCL-LIC-19990301-00005 (dated Sept. 4, 2018). In 2004, the Commission granted two modifications of the license to add the then-new pro forma condition and to substitute the then-new no special concessions condition for the no exclusive arrangements condition. See Actions Taken Under Cable Landing License Act, SCL-MOD-20040211- 00005, SCL-MOD-20040211-00006, Public Notice, 19 FCC Rcd 20344 (IB 2004). FLAG-1 Atlantic has had several names and owners over the years. Most recently, in 2022, the Commission granted consent to the transfer of control of FLAG Telecom Limited from GCX Holdings Limited (GCX Holdings) to Reef Bidco Limited (Reef Bidco). See Actions Taken Under Cable Landing License Act, SCL-T/C-20211124-00049, Public Notice, 37 FCC Rcd. 9621 (IB 2022). Grant of the assignment was conditioned on compliance by FLAG Telecom Limited, GCX Holdings Limited, Vanco US, LLC, Vanco Solutions, Inc., Reliance Globalcom Services, Inc., and 3i Infrastructure plc, abide by the commitments and undertakings set forth in a July 18, 2022, Letter of Agreement from Carl Grivner, Director/CEO FLAG Telecom Limited and GCX Holdings Limited and Edward Pike, Counsel, 3i Page 2 of 6 Infrastructure plc, to Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, Department of Homeland Security, and Office of Foreign Investment Review, Director, Undersecretary of Acquisition and Sustainment, U.S. Department of Defense (2022 LOA). Id. FLAG Atlantic-1 remains subject to the 2022 LOA. Cable System Design and Capacity. The FLAG Atlantic-1 system is a non-common carrier submarine cable with a ring-configuration system consisting of three undersea segments (Segment N, Segment S, and Segment E): 1. Segment N connects Northport, New York, and Skewjack, United Kingdom. 2. Segment S connects Island Park, New York, and Plérin, France. 3. Segment E connects Skewjack, United Kingdom, and Plérin, France. Each segment has six fiber pairs (initial capacity 1.2 Terabits) and the system has a total design capacity of 61.2 Terabits. Cable Landings The FLAG Atlantic-1 system has landing points at the following locations: Northport, New York, Island Park, New York, Skewjack, United Kingdom, and Plérin, France. Ownership of the System. The Applicants state that FLAG Telecom Limited owns and operates the international waters portions of the FLAG Atlantic-1 system, and FLAG Telecom Network USA Limited owns and operates the U.S. territory portion of the system. The ownership of each segment is as follows below: 1. Northport – Skewjack Segment: FTNUSA, 100% of portion in U.S. territory; FLAG Telecom, 100% of portion in international waters; FLAG Atlantic UK Limited, 100% of portion in foreign territorial waters. 2. Island Park – Plérin Segment: (FTNUSA, 100% of portion in U.S. territory; FLAG Telecom, 100% of portion in international waters; FLAG Atlantic France SAS, 100% of portion in foreign territorial waters. 3. Skewjack – Plérin Segment: FLAG Atlantic UK Limited, 100% of portion in foreign territorial waters extending from Skewjack; FLAG Telecom, 100% of portion in international waters; FLAG Atlantic France SAS, 100% of portion in foreign territorial waters extending from Plérin. Applicants state that neither FLAG Atlantic UK Limited nor FLAG Atlantic France SAS use the U.S. endpoints of the FLAG Atlantic-1 system and thus are not required to be licensees on the FLAG Atlantic-1 system under section 1.767(h)(2) of the Commission’s rules. 47 CFR § 1.767(h)(2). The ownership and control of the cable landing stations is as follows below: 1. Northport, New York: National Grid Generation LLC (100% ownership); FTNUSA (100% control). 2. Island Park, New York: National Grid Generation LLC (100% ownership); FTNUSA (100% control). 3. Skewjack, United Kingdom: FLAG Atlantic UK (100% ownership and control). 4. Plérin, France: FLAG Atlantic France SAS (100% ownership and control). Page 3 of 6 Waiver Request of 47 CFR § 1.767(h)(1). The Applicants request waiver of Section 1.767(h)(1) of the Commission’s rules, 47 CFR § 1.767(h)(1) so that National Grid Generation LLC (National Grid), the owner of the Northport and Island Park, NY cable landing stations, does not need to be a joint applicant for the cable landing license. Section 1.767(h)(1) requires that “[a]ny entity that owns or controls a cable landing station in the United States” shall be “applicants for, and licensees on, a cable landing license.” 47 CFR § 1.767(h)(1). Applicants state that FTNUSA has 100% of the control of the New York landing stations. Applicants assert that including National Grid as a licensee is not necessary to ensure Applicants’ compliance with the Cable Landing License Act, the Commission’s rules, or the terms of any cable landing license. Applicants state that their “contract with National Grid provides space and certain limited services with respect to the security and maintenance of the facility” and that “National Grid has no responsibilities with respect to” FLAG Atlantic-1. Regulatory Classification The FLAG Atlantic-1 system is currently operated on a non-common carrier basis. The Applicants propose to continue to operate the cable on a non-common carrier basis. Applicants state that they do not operate the cable system on a common carrier basis. Applicants state that they do not sell capacity indifferently to the user public, but do offer FLAG Atlantic-1 capacity to third parties pursuant to individually-negotiated IRUs and capacity leases, the terms of which will vary depending on the characteristics and needs of the particular capacity purchaser. Applicants further state that FLAG Atlantic-1 competes with other existing systems providing capacity on North Atlantic routes, including EXA North and South, AEConnect-1, Amitié, Apollo, Atlantic Crossing-1, Dunant, Grace Hopper, Havfrue, Marea, TGN Atlantic, and Yellow, and will soon compete with other recently announced systems, including the Anjana and Nuvem systems. Applicants contend that “existence of competing facilities. . . ensures that the [FLAG Atlantic-1] system does not and would not function as a bottleneck facility on those routes.” Ownership of the Applicants. FLAG Telecom Network USA Limited, a Delaware entity, is wholly owned by FLAG Telecom Ireland Network DAC, which in turn is wholly owned by FLAG Telecom Ireland DAC, which is wholly owned by FLAG Telecom Network Services DAC, all of which are organized in Ireland. FLAG Telecom Network Services DAC is wholly owned by FLAG Telecom Development Limited, which in turn is wholly owned by FLAG Telecom Limited, both of which are organized in Bermuda. FLAG Telecom Limited is wholly owned by GCX Global Limited, which is wholly owned by GCX Holdings Limited, both Bermuda entities. GCX Holdings Limited is wholly owned by GCX Bidco Limited (formerly Reef Bidco Limited), which is wholly owned by GCX Midco Limited (formerly Reef Midco Limited), which is wholly owned by GCX Topco Limited (formerly Reef Topco Limited), all of which are U.K. entities. 3i Infrastructure Plc, an entity organized in Jersey, holds 98% of the equity and voting interests in GCX Topco Limited. 3i Investments Plc, a U.K. investment management company, is the exclusive investment manager for and has 100% of the voting interests in 3i Infrastructure Plc. 3i Investments Plc is wholly owned by 3i Plc, which is in turn wholly owned by 3i Holdings Plc, both U.K. entities. 3i Group Plc, a U.K. entity, holds 29% of the equity and voting interests in 3i Infrastructure Plc. 3i Group Plc also wholly owns 3i Holdings Plc. According to the Applicants, no other individual Page 4 of 6 or entity holds a 10% or greater direct or indirect equity or voting interest in either of the Applicants. Conditions and Requirements. Applicants certify that they accept and will abide by the routine conditions specified in Section 1.767(g) of the Commission’s rules, 47 C.F.R. § 1.767(g). Executive Branch Review. The Applicants request that the Commission not refer the application to the Executive Branch for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and trade policy review. The Applicants state that this is not a new or modified submarine cable and it is subject to ongoing Executive Branch oversight pursuant to the 2022 LOA. Applicants also request that the Commission condition grant of the renewed cable landing license on their continued compliance with this existing LOA. The 2022 LOA may be viewed on the FCC's website through the International Communications Filing System (ICFS) by searching for SCL-RWL-20250812-00027 and accessing from the Document Viewing Area. We are exercising our discretion and are not referring this application to the Executive Branch for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and trade policy review. We find that this application presents a low or minimal risk to national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy. Unlike most cable landing license applications, this application involves an existing facility with a mitigation agreement specific to the cable system and that was agreed to in 2022. The application does not propose any changes to the cable system since the 2022 LOA was entered into and there have been no substantive changes in the foreign ownership since the 2022 LOA was entered into by the relevant parties. Finally, the Applicants also request that the Commission condition grant of the renewed cable landing license on their continued compliance with the 2022 LOA. On February 24, 2026, U.S. Department of Justice, filed a letter stating that the Committee for the Assessment of Foreign Participation in the United States Telecommunications Services Sector (“Committee”) “does not believe, based on available information, that a referral of this application to the Committee for review under Section 5 of Executive Order (“E.O.”) 13913 is necessary.” See Letter from Christopher R. Clements, Deputy Chief, Telecom and Supply Chain Foreign Investment Review Section, National Security Division, U.S. Department of Justice to Marlene H. Dortch, FCC, filed in SCL-RWL-20250812-00027 (Feb. 24, 2026). Consequently, we will not refer this application to the Executive Branch for national security, law enforcement, foreign policy, and trade policy review. Although we are not referring this application, we will provide a courtesy copy of this public notice to the Executive Branch agencies. See Executive Branch Review Process Order, 35 FCC Rcd 10927, 10941, para. 36, n.99; see also id. at 10957, para 81, n.205. REMINDERS: Applicants must certify that neither the applicant nor any party to the application is subject to a denial of federal benefits by federal and/or state courts under authority granted in 21 U.S.C. § 862. See C.F.R. §§ 1.2001-1.2003. By this notice, we inform the public that submarine cable landing license applications that are part of Page 5 of 6 larger transactions involving multiple Commission licenses or authorizations may involve "extraordinary circumstances" as referenced in Review of Commission Consideration of Applications under the Submarine Cable Landing License Act, Report and Order, 16 FCC Rcd 22167 (2001) and Rules and Policies on Foreign Participation in the U.S. Telecommunications Market, Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration, 12 FCC Rcd 23891 (1997), paras. 327-28, Order on Reconsideration, 15 FCC Rcd 18158 (2000). Additionally, extraordinary circumstances result where Executive Branch agencies petition the Commission to defer action on an application pending the resolution of potential national security, law enforcement, foreign policy and trade policy issues. Accordingly, these applications may be removed from streamlined processing and may not be acted on within the 90-day review period that the Commission has established as the period of time normally required to reach a decision on non- streamlined submarine cable landing licenses. This notice shall serve as public notice to applicants that, in these circumstances, additional time may be required for Commission review and final action. No additional formal public notice will be provided routinely with respect to specific applications in the event that the applicable review period extends beyond 90 days. Page 6 of 6